Socket wrench



Nov. 29, 1960 H. C. STUMPF SOCKET WRENCH Filed Dec. 25, 1958 INVENTOR#0140420 C. STUMPF United States Patent 10 ice SOCKET WRENCH Howard C.Stumpf, Wakefield, Mass. (405 W. 1 st St., Boston 27, Mass.)

Filed Dec. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 782,469

Claims. (Cl. 81--121) The present invention relates generally to animproved wrench, and in particular it relates to an improved wrench ofthe torque or pressure controlled type.

In applying nuts to screws, bolts, studs or the like, it is oftennecessary or desirable that the pressure of the nut and hence thetightening torque applied thereto be closely controlled. Frequently, inmass production operations, a large number of nuts are applied tothreaded shanks of equal lengths, and it is essential that thetightening torque applied thereto be uniform. Heretofore, torquemeasuring wrenches or controlled torque wrenches of the slipping ordisengaging type have been employed in the above circumstances. However,the use of such wrenches possesses many drawbacks and disadvantages. Theemployment of the torque measuring type of wrench generally requires theconstant visual observance of the wrench dial which is not onlyinconvenient but often extremely difficult. The use of the slippingoridisengaging type of torque wrench is generally limited to motordriven wrenches and, like the torque measuring wrench, is usually aclumsy and awkward device. When the latter wrench is hand-driven, itoften leads to bruised knuckles and other injuries as a result of theslipping of the drive lever or handle. It is apparent from the abovethat the use of the conventional torque measuring or torque controlledwrenches leaves much to be desired.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved wrench.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrenchof the torqueor pressure-controlled type.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtorque-controlled socket wrench which may be employed in areas ofdiflicult accessibility.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtorque controlled socket wrench which may be easily and accuratelyemployed, even by unskilled operators. I

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved wrench of the above nature characterized by its ruggedness,simplicity and low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sideperspective view of a socket wrench constructed according to andembodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, illustrated asapplied to the tightening of a nut;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the improved socket wrench.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of animproved wrench of the character described comprising a body memberhaving a longitudinally extending socket or polygonal transversecross-section 2,961,905 Patented Nov. 29, 1960 formed in the leading endthereof, a longitudinally adjustable abutment member located in saidsocket and having a leading face trailing the leading end of saidsocket, and means releasably rigidly locking said abutment member in apreset'position within said socket.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thewrench body member includes leading and trailing longitudinally coaxialtubular section separated by an intermediate transverse wall, theleading section having a polygonal internal transverse cross-sectionadapted to receive and engage a nut and the trailing section also havinga polygonal internal transverse cross section adapted to receive andengage a correspondingly shaped shank of a manipulating handle, such asa'ratchet arm, lever, crank, brace, or the like. An axiallylongitudinally extending first tapped bore and a transversely.

extending second tapped bore communicating with the first bore areformed'in the intermediate wall. A. first screw engages the first boreand projects into the first tubular member and a second screw registerswith the second bore and releasably engages the first screw to lock itin any desired preset position. A third transversely extending tappedbore is formed in the wall of the leading tubular section adjacent itsleading end and engages a mating screw. The use of the improved socketwrench will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a pre-. ferred embodimentof the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates thebody member of the improved wrench, the letter B a bolt or stud and theletter N a nut, the tightening of which is effected by the improvedwrench. Although the nut N is illustratedas of the self-locking typeincluding a split annular crown portion C, the wrench may be applied toany type of nut.

The wrench body member 10 includes a leading or forward tubular section12 and a trailing or rear tubular section 14 longitudinally coaxial withthe leading tubular section 14 and preferably formed integrallytherewith. Trailing section 14 is of greater outer diameter than leadingsection 12, the outer faces of the sections 12 and 14 being connected byan inclined portion 16. Separating 12 and 14 is:

or dividing the leading and trailing sections a relatively heavytransverse wall 18.

Leading section 12 has a relatively deep nut engaging socket 20 ofpolygonal transverse cross-section formed therein which extends from theleading face of body' member 10 to the forward face of the wall 18 whichde-.

fines the base of socket 20. The transverse cross sectionalconfiguration of the socket 20 may be of any desired nut engaging shape,as is well known in the art. Formed in the wall of the forward section12 immediately pos-'-.

terior to the leading end thereof is a radially extending section formedtherein, enlarged at the inner end thereof,

I as at 28, in the vicinity of dividing wall .18. Bore 26 may be of anyother'configurat'ion than that illustrated and adapted to receive theshank of a manipulating handle such as a lever, ratchet arm, brace, orthe like.

Formed in and extending longitudinally through the intermediate wall 18and substantially coaxially with the socket 20 is a tapped bore 30. Anadjustable screw 32 is received within and engages bore 30, and projectsaxially into socket 20. Screw 32 has a cylindrical tip 34 preferablyterminating in a flat forwardly directed face. Also formed in theintermediate wall 18 is a radial tapped bore 36 communicating with thebore 30 and extending through the outer inclined face 16 of the bodymember 10. A set screw 38 is received within and engages the tapped bore36, and its leading face 39 is adapted to engage adjustable screw 32. Itshould be 3 noted that although the screws 24, 32 and 38 are illustratedas Allen-type screws, any other type of screw may be employed.

In employing the improved socket wrench described above, it is initiallyadjusted to the desired operation as follows. The first nut Nistightened to the required pressure on the threaded shank of the bolt Band this is used as the standard for the remaining tightening operationsof nuts under similar conditions. This tightening of the first nut N tothe necessary pressure may be effected by means of any conventionaltorque-measuring or torquecontrolled wrench. Thereafter, wrench socket20 is brought into engagement with the tightened nut N, the leading faceof body member abutting the confronting face of the work piece P whichis usually coplanar with the underface of nut N. Set screw 24 is thentightened firmly to engage the nut N and set screw 38 loosened. Screw 32is then advanced until its leading face-is in close, firm contact withthe confronting face of the threaded shank of the bolt or stud B. Screw38 is thereupon tightened to lock screw 32 in its adjusted position. Setscrew 24 is then loosened, the body member 10 removed from the nut N andbolt B, and the shank of any suitable manipulating handle, as above setforth, brought into engagement with the body member bore 26. The wrenchis now ready for use in controllably tightening nuts under conditionssimilar to the standard nut N.

The remaining or production nuts are preferably first applied and fingertightened with or without the use of the adjusted improved wrench untilthe nut abuts the work piece P. Socket is brought into engagement withthe nut N, the leading face of the section 12 abutting the work piece Pand being coplanar with the underface of the nut N longitudinallyaccurately to position the nut in the socket 20. Body member 10 is thenturned by the manipulating handle in the usual manner to tighten nut Nand draw the bolt threaded shank toward the leading face of the screw 32which defines an abutment. When the bolt-threaded shank firmly abuts theleading face of the screw 32, and body member 10 maintained in itslongitudinal position relative to the nut N, as aforesaid, furthermovement of the manipulating handle and tightening of the nut N .isextremely difficult or practically impossible. At this point, the nut Nhas been tightened to the required pressure as established by thestandard nut and bolt. The tightening may be indefinitely repeated withother nuts and threaded shanks under similar conditions and dimensions.

It is apparent from the above that the controlled tightening of nuts orthe like, employing the present improved wrench, is far simpler and moreconvenient than with the use of conventional torque measuring orhandoperated torque controlled wrenches. Furthermore, the

improved wrench may be handas well as power-driven.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim:

1. An improved wrench of the character described,

comprising a body memberhaving a longitudinally extending socket ofpolygonal transverse cross-section formed in the leading end thereof,said body member having a longitudinally extending tapped opening formedtherein communicating and substantially coaxial with the base of saidsocket, a first screw engaging said tapped opening and having a leadingend extending into said socket, means releasably locking said screw in apreset position, said body member having formed therein a transverselyextending tapped bore communicating with said socket adjacent to theleading end thereof, and a second screw engaging said tapped bore.

2. An improved wrench of the character described, comprising a bodymember including substantially coaxial leading and trailing tubularsections separated by a transverse intermediate wall, said leadingsection being of internal polygonal transverse cross-section adapted toengage a nut, said intermediate wall having formed therein alongitudinally extending tapped bore extending therethroughsubstantially coaxial with said tubular sections, a screw engaging saidlongitudinal bore and extending into said leading tubular sectionrearward of the leading end thereof and being accessible through saidtrailing tubular section, and means releasably locking said screw in apreset position.

3. An improved wrench of the character described, comprising a bodymember including substantially coaxial leading and trailing tubularsections separated by a transverse intermediate wall, said leadingsection being of internal polygonal transverse cross-section adapted toengage a nut, said intermediate wall having formed therein alongitudinally extending tapped bore extending therethroughsubstantially coaxial with said tubular sections and a transverselyextending tapped bore communicating with said longitudinal bore, a screwengaging said longitudinal bore and extending into said leading tubularsection posterior the leading end thereof and being accessible throughsaid trailing tubular section, and a screw registering with saidtransverse bore and separably engaging said first referred to screw forreleasably locking same in preset condition.

4. An improved wrench in accordance with claim 3, including meansmounted on said leading section adapted to secure releasably a nutregistering with said leading section.

5. An improved wrench in accordance with claim 3, wherein a tappedtransverse bore extends through the wall of said leading tubular sectionadjacent the leading end thereof, and a screw engaging said tapped boreto secure releasably a nut registering with said leading section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 48,027Park May 30, 1865 284,076 Searles Aug. 28, 1883 729,829 Wysong June 2,1903 1,093,252 Carnes Apr. 14, 1914 1,509,680 Meek Sept. 23, 19242,716,393 Fischer Aug. 30, 1955

